VIP, or Very Irate Person as Wallström is bumped off flight

EU environment chief Margot Wallström was grounded for several hours recently when she was ‘bumped off’ an early morning flight, booked via SN Brussels for Alitalia.

Following her usual procedure, she had her staff purchase an economy class ticket with a special VIP boarding pass for the voyage from Brussels to Rome, where she was to meet Italian Environment Minister Altero Matteoli.

But when the commissioner arrived at the airport, she was not exactly given the VIP treatment.

“They said it was overbooked and just threw her off the flight!” said an incredulous Wallström staffer.

The Swede finally arrived in Italy some hours later, missing her appointment, but making it to a few other rendezvous before heading back to Brussels.

So, in a most un-environmental fashion, she was forced to make another trip to Italy a few weeks later to meet Matteoli.

Wallström has a policy of flying economy class within Europe, to save EU’s taxpayers’ money.

Let’s hope the Alitalia farce won’t make her change her mind!

Incidentally, if the same thing occurs to Margot in the future she, and we taxpayers, will be due compensation by the offending carrier.

MEPs in Strasbourg were due to vote in favour today (3 July) of new legislation covering overbooked and delayed passengers.

Travellers bumped off flights because of overbooking – or those who have their flight cancelled – will get cash payouts in compensation – and delayed passengers will, for the first time, have a right to have the cost of their air fare reimbursed.

Statutory compensation is due to be set at l250, for short haul flights of less than 1,500 kilometres, o400 for flights between 1,500-3,500 km and l600 for long haul flights of 3,500 km plus.

So, for that screw-up on the Brussels to Rome journey, Margot would have received at least l250. As, eventually, will the rest of us. And about time too…

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